In brief: Steroids tops field as AP story of year

Story of year: Alex Rodriguez joined the list of cheaters this year, and Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz are forever tainted now, too.

Five years after Major League Baseball added punishments to its testing program, questions about performance-enhancing drugs still swirl around America’s favorite pastime. The sport’s ongoing drug problem was chosen as the 2009 Story of the Year by members of the Associated Press, outmuscling even the shocking downfall of Tiger Woods.

“The impact that that story had made it the story of the year,” said Lance Hanlin, sports editor of the Beaufort (S.C.) Gazette and The (Hilton Head) Island Packet. “It was a big, ongoing, overall story.”

In fact, the Woods scandal finished fifth in the top story voting. Jimmie Johnson’s unprecedented fourth straight NASCAR championship was second, followed by Roger Federer winning his 15th Grand Slam and Brett Favre ending his (second) retirement to lead the Minnesota Vikings to the division title.

Braves near one-year deal with Glaus

MLB: The power-hungry Atlanta Braves are hoping longtime third baseman Troy Glaus can fill the team’s void at first base.

The Braves have reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract with Glaus, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press – although it is not yet final.

The agreement is pending a physical planned for the first week of January.

•Johnson returns to Yankees: First baseman Nick Johnson returned to the New York Yankees, finalizing a $5.75 million, one-year contract.

Johnson began his career in New York and spent three years with the Yankees before he was traded to Montreal after the 2003 season.

•Crisp signs with Athletics: The Oakland Athletics have finalized a $5.25 million, one-year contract with free- agent outfielder Coco Crisp.

Crisp had season-ending shoulder surgery in June and batted .228 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 49 games last season for the Kansas City Royals.

•Dickey joins Mets: A person familiar with the negotiations told the AP that the New York Mets have agreed to a minor league contract with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.

The 35-year-old right-hander made 14 starts for Seattle in 2008 but was primarily a reliever for Minnesota last season, when he went 1-1 with a 4.62 ERA in one start and 34 relief appearances.

•Rodney headed to Angels: A person familiar with the negotiations told the AP that reliever Fernando Rodney has reached a preliminary agreement with the Los Angeles Angels on a two-year deal worth $11 million. Rodney must pass a physical to complete the deal.

•Umpires agree to contract: Major League Baseball ensured its first decade of labor peace since the 1960s by agreeing to a five-year contract with umpires that runs through 2014.

The deal, which is subject to ratification next month, was the second straight achieved without acrimony since a failed mass resignation in 1999 led to 22 umpires losing their jobs.

Bryzgalov earns fifth shutout of season

NHL: Ilya Bryzgalov made 21 saves for his NHL-leading fifth shutout of the season and the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-0 in Glendale, Ariz., for their eighth straight home victory.

•Penguins pepper Senators: Evgeni Malkin had his fourth career hat trick, Bill Guerin added two goals and two assists, and the host Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Ottawa Senators 8-2.

•Blackhawks blank Wings: Antti Niemi made 33 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and his career, and Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist to propel the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings in Detroit.

•Blues win in shootout: Brad Boyes and T.J. Oshie beat Miikka Kiprusoff in a shootout to give the visiting St. Louis Blues a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames at Calgary, Alberta.

Roy-less Trail Blazers fend off Spurs

Basketball: Jerryd Bayless scored 31 points in his first start for injured All-Star Brandon Roy, leading the hobbled Portland Trail Blazers to a 98-94 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio.

•Heat stifle Jazz: Dwyane Wade scored 29 points and the Miami Heat held the Utah Jazz to their lowest offensive output of the season, winning 80-70 in Miami.

•Smith golden for Nuggets: J.R. Smith came off the bench to score a season-high 41 points, hitting 10 3-pointers, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Atlanta Hawks 124-104 in Denver.

•Durant sparks Thunder: Kevin Durant scored 38 points, including a key jumper from behind the key with 14.4 seconds left, lifting the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder to a 117-113 victory over Phoenix, ending their nine-game losing streak to the Suns.

•Cavaliers outlast Kings: LeBron James had 34 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers held the Sacramento Kings scoreless in overtime to pick up a 117-104 win at Sacramento, Calif.

•Oral Roberts shocks New Mexico: Michael Craion had 18 points and 13 rebounds as Oral Roberts (7-6) handed No. 13 New Mexico (12-1) its first loss of the season, 75-66 in Tulsa, Okla.

Eagles’ Westbrook cleared to play

Football: Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook was cleared to play after recovering from two concussions and is expected to return against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

•Frye will start for Raiders: Oakland Raiders quarterback Charlie Frye has been cleared to play after sustaining a concussion against Denver last week and will start Sunday’s game against Cleveland.

•Longhorns top Forbes’ list: The Texas Longhorns are the most valuable team in college sports.

Forbes magazine says Texas has a team value of $119 million, easily topping Notre Dame, last year’s leader, by $11 million.

Rounding out the first 10 in Forbes’ Top 20 list are Penn State, Nebraska, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Ohio State, Georgia and Oklahoma.